The Carpenter's Children by Maggie Bennett

of it; but he felt a nameless unease, something he could not put into words, asense of the precariousness of human life, in spite of the wealth and prosperity of the age. He agreed that the tragedy had shaken them all out of their complacency, for if the unsinkable
Titanic
had proved unable to withstand an iceberg, who knew what other disasters awaited a generation that increasingly put its faith in scientific advance?
    Isabel had similar thoughts when Miss Daniells led the school in prayer, impressing on them the need to live good Christian lives, and not to follow the ways of this world, which to her meant modesty in dress and behaviour, especially on the part of young women who played tennis and golf, even on the Lord’s day.
    ‘I simply don’t know what the world’s coming to, Miss Munday,’ she sighed, though she commended Isabel’s brother Ernest for putting his church before cycling on the Sabbath. If only all families would follow the example of the Mundays, she said, how much better life would be for the whole nation.
    But just one week into the new term, the exemplary Mundays were called upon to face a humiliating blow. What they had dismissed as Grace’s self-will and naughtiness was now a real cause for concern – to the extent that Mr Chisman the headmaster had summoned her parents to his private office where he informed them that their thirteen-year-old daughter’s behaviour would soon result in expulsion unless she changed her ways as a persistent troublemaker. TheMundays stood together before Mr Chisman’s desk as if they were the culprits, and begged for Grace to be given another chance.
    ‘It is only because I know you as respectable and caring parents that I have not taken this step before,’ he told them gravely. ‘I had hoped that she would improve as she grew older, but this has not been the case. Cheating in the weekly class tests and copying other pupils’ homework is one thing, but using foul language – which I know she won’t have learnt at home – and attacking her classmates with fists and nails is something that cannot go on. Other parents have complained of injuries inflicted by her on girls and boys alike. And I’m sorry to say that Grace has the ability to turn into an angel of light when challenged, and will break down in tears, pleading that she had only been defending a younger child who was being bullied.’
    ‘She’s told us about an incident like that, Mr Chisman, and I can assure you that she has often stood up to bullying, both in school and out of it,’ said Mrs Munday, anxious to defend her daughter.
    ‘That may be so, Mrs Munday, but I have to tell you that she is thoroughly disruptive in class,’ said Mr Chisman. ‘She has a regrettable tendency to stir up trouble and then disappear from the scene, leaving others to take the blame. I’m sorry, but this cannot be allowed to continue.’
    He frowned and turned to address Tom Munday.‘I am prepared, more for your sakes than hers, to overlook her behaviour on this occasion, but there will not be another reprieve. Do I make myself clear, Mr Munday?’
    Tom nodded and murmured his thanks, but the ignominy of the situation reduced his wife to tears; Tom looked very grave as they left the school.
    ‘We’ve spoilt her, Violet. We’ve let her wrap us around her little finger, and it hasn’t done her any good – quite the opposite.’
    ‘Heavens, Tom, she’s only thirteen, a child as yet, and it’s probably just a phase she’s going through. We just need to be a little bit firmer with her, let her see how upset we are, and I’m sure she’ll take it to heart and make up her mind to be good in future,’ said Mrs Munday, wiping her eyes.
    ‘If it isn’t already too late,’ muttered Tom, half under his breath. He blamed himself entirely for his blindness and lack of firmness with his wife as well as his daughter. It’s up to me, he thought, to see that things would be different from now on.

    At Miss